Rothaarsteig Trail Gernsdorfer Höhentour

An varied landscape and great views with forests and especially idyllic meadow landscapes await the hiker on the Gernsdorfer Höhentour around the eponymous district of Wilnsdorf. The nature reserve "Gernsdorfer Weidekämpe" is a special feature because of the diversity of the developed cultural landscape with various types of grassland. The term Weidekämpe designates a large cattle pasture introduced from the 19th century on cleared Hauberg areas.

Due to different soil conditions and types of use, various habitat types and plant communities of the open land developed, many of which have great importance for nature conservation. These include grass heath, colorful mountain smooth oat grass meadows, wet pastures, and small sedge swamps. Hedges, solitary trees, swamp areas, and springs offer habitat for many rare animal and plant species and present the visitor with an attractive landscape. Notable species include tens of thousands of orchids. Rare meadow birds in the area are the whinchat and meadow pipit, which, as ground nesters, can only successfully breed where management is extensive and adapted to the breeding season, as here in the protected area.

Another special feature is that the Gernsdorfer trail meets the Hessian trail "Dill-Bergtour" on the Rothaarsteig, so the two Rothaarsteig trails can also be combined into a long hike or planned in two stages.

Certified as "dream routes" by the German Hiking Association, the Rothaarsteig trails are particularly suitable for your day or half-day tour on the Path of the Senses. All Rothaarsteig trails are marked with the white, lying R on a black background. Detailed route descriptions of the trails can be found online at www.rothaarsteig.de/spuren. Our service hotline +49 2974/4994163 is available daily free of charge from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.